The Peninsula Oilers played to a 3-all tie with the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks in Fairbanks on Tuesday in the season opener for both teams.
The game was a nonleague contest for both teams, since the Goldpanners are no longer in the Alaska Baseball League. That’s why it was allowed to end in a tie.
The Oilers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Trey Becker tripled and scored on a grounder by Cole Jordan.
The Goldpanners came back with three runs in the bottom of the third.
Peninsula cut the gap to 3-2 after the top of the seventh. Noah Hennings had a single with one out. He would eventually score on a single by Chase Katafias.
The Oilers then waited until the top of the ninth to tie the game. Hennings started the inning with an infield single. Hennings then stole second with one out.
James Shimashita then advanced Hennings to third base with a fly ball to right field for the second out.
Becker then had an infield second to third base to tie the game.
The Oilers were able to get a look at four pitchers in the game.
Connor Kershaw pitched the first 3 2-3 innings for the Oilers, giving up three earned runs on four hits while walking two and striking out four.
Mason Kokodynski then came on and pitched three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out three.
Will O’Neill then kept the Goldpanners off the board for 1 1-3 innings, giving up two hits and three walks while striking out one.
Homer product Mose Hayes then assured the tie by pitching a scoreless, hitless inning with a strikeout.
Hennings finished 3 for 4 with two runs for the Oilers, while Becker was 2 for 4 with a run and RBI.
The Oilers continue to play in Fairbanks today and Thursday, with both games at 6:30 p.m.
The Oilers start the league schedule against the Anchorage Bucs with a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Anchorage’s Mulcahy Stadium. Peninsula does not play at home until June 22.
